Johnny Boufarhat (born 1 June 1994)[1] is an Australian-born British entrepreneur and businessman, best known for founding the virtual events platform Hopin in 2019.[2][3] He came to prominence as one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the United Kingdom, reportedly achieving billionaire status at the age of 26.[4]
Boufarhat was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Lebanese father who worked as a mechanical engineer and a Syrian-born Armenian mother who was an accountant.[1] His family relocated to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he attended the Dubai American Academy.[5]
He later moved to the United Kingdom for his university studies, enrolling at the University of Manchester where he studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 2016.[1][6] At university, he was described by peers as quiet and focused on his work.[7]
Career
Health challenges and founding vision
After graduation, Boufarhat suffered from a serious allergic reaction that led to an autoimmune disorder, leaving him largely housebound for several months.[8] During this period, he developed the idea for Hopin—an online events platform enabling people to meet, collaborate, and network virtually.[9]
Launch
In January 2019, Boufarhat officially launched Hopin. The company began as a small remote-first team and later set up its headquarters in London.[10][11]
Although the platform experienced a surge in demand in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies, schools, and conferences shifted to virtual operations.[12][13] The company reached a peak valuation of $7.75 billion in August 2021. According to the Financial Times, Boufarhat sold about $195 million worth of his shares in the company.[14] By 2022, Hopin had more than 800 employees in over 45 countries.[15]
Departure
As demand for in-person events returned post-pandemic, Hopin underwent strategic restructuring.[16]
On 2 August 2023, Boufarhat stepped down as CEO of Hopin. He was succeeded by Josh Stein, the company's Chief Financial Officer.[17][18]
Personal life
Boufarhat keeps a low public profile. He has spoken about following a carnivore diet, which he credits with helping manage his autoimmune condition.[1] In 2021, Boufarhat resided in Barcelona.[19] In 2022, Boufarhat became a resident of Switzerland.[20] As of 2023, he splits his time between London and Barcelona.[21][citation needed]
Boufarhat has been recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in the technology category in 2022.[22] He appeared in the Sunday Times Rich List in 2022 and 2023.[23] Boufarhat's estimated net worth in 2023 was £1.714 billion.[24]
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